CAIRO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Allies of deposed EgyptianPresident Mohamed Mursi told mediators on Saturday theyrespected the popular will expressed in mass protests that ledto his downfall, suggesting they might be backing away from ademand he be reinstated.

Tarek El-Malt, spokesman for the pro-Mursi delegation thatmet envoys from the United States and the European Union, saidhis camp sought a resolution to Egypt's crisis based on the constitution that was suspended after he was deposed.

Speaking to Reuters by telephone, Malt said Mursi's alliestold the envoys they wanted the constitution restored and saidit held "more than one solution" to the crisis. He added thatGeneral Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief who overthrewMursi, must not be part of a political deal without Mursi.

Asked whether the delegation had told the envoys that Mursimust be reinstated, Malt said that would be worked out in thedetails, notably not reiterating the demand for his return.

"This is part of the political initiatives," he said. "Wedid not get into the details of the political initiatives".

He said if those who opposed Mursi continued to insist thathe should not be part of the "political equation", then "thesteadfastness and sit-ins of the millions in the streets forfive weeks requires that Sisi must also not be in the politicalequation."

A member of the Muslim Brotherhood-allied Wasat Party, Maltis the appointed spokesman of the delegation that met with U.S.Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, U.S. Ambassador AnnePatterson and European Union special envoy Bernardino Leon.

The delegation also includes top members of theBrotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).

Later, senior Brotherhood politician Essam El-Erian saidrestoring the 2012 constitution meant Mursi would see out histerm. However, diplomats say the Brotherhood understands Mursi,detained at a secret location, will not return as president butthey want a face-saving legal formula for him to step down.

"Those empowered to speak for the FJP understand that Mursiis not coming back. But they are maintaining that as anegotiating position," a Western diplomat said.

Another diplomat involved in the talks said pro-Mursialliance had shown flexibility in Saturday's meeting.

Relaying the messages delivered to the envoys, Malt said: "Irespect and hold in regard the demands of the masses that wentout on June 30, but I will not build on the military coup."

He added that the demands of the Mursi supporters must alsobe respected. Mursi supporters still protesting in Cairo wantthe constitution and Mursi reinstated.

"We have the readiness and flexibility to accept politicalsolutions to get out of this crisis as long as they are based onconstitutional legitimacy, by which we mean the return andreactivation of the 2012 constitution," Malt said.

He added that political solutions must be hammered out withthe National Salvation Front - the loose coalition ofnon-Islamist parties that backed Mursi's overthrow and whichincludes interim Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei.

"We (will) sit together and we will assess proposedpolitical initiatives and reach solutions that respect allpopular desires. But the army will not have a role in politicalsolutions," he said.

"The army must remain neutral and not interfere in politicallife," he added.

Malt said a period of calm was needed to build confidenceamong all parties. He said this would include a renunciation ofviolence, the release of what he called political detainees andallowing Islamist television stations to reopen.

The army-backed government says the Brotherhood has incitedviolence, accusing it of engaging in terrorism. Malt said thedelegation had underscored the pro-Mursi camp's commitment topeaceful protests.

They also condemned violence in the Sinai Peninsula, whereattacks by militant Islamists have escalated since Mursi'sdownfall. "It has nothing to do with the protests and sit-insand we reject it strongly and we condemn any attack on theEgyptian armed forces or the police," Malt said.